Our curriculum offers children many opportunities to engage in a wide variety of meaningful activities. Here are some reasons why we do certain activities, what the learning is that’s going on, why they are important, and what they are preparing for.
WORKING
WITH CRAYONS,
PAINTS, SCISSORS…
Develops muscular coordination,
later to be used in writing
Enlarges child’s imagination and creativity
Provides for planning in proper work habits
(i.e., taking care of materials and learning
how to plan a project)
Develops safety habits
Gives outlet for emotional strain
Shows child’s progression of development
(samples of first work compared with late
samples)
HEARING AND TELLING…
Widens child’s vocabulary
Hopefully starts a long term interest in books
Develops imagination
Helps the child listen for content
Provides opportunity for planning dramatization
Increases attention span
Quiets restlessness
Develops enunciation (teacher and other children as models)
Provides for group to work together
LOOKING AT PICTURE BOOKS…
Provides topics for informal discussion
Helps child in sequencing (beginning, middle and end of story)
Aids visual discrimination, noticing details
Increases attention span
Develops imagination and provides vicarious experiences
PLAYING
AT SAND TABLE, WORKING
WITH CLAY OR WATER PLAY…
Develops imagination
Gives outlet for anger
Provides opportunity for concepts of
big, small, more, less, etc.
Helps child discuss what he is doing
(language development)
Develops small muscle control
(fine motor coordination)
Beginning measurement
PLAYING
WITH BLOCKS, LARGE AND SMALL…
Gives opportunity to play together and share ideas
Develops imagination
Helps develop big muscles of arms and legs
(large blocks)
Helps develop small muscles in hands
(small blocks)
Helps eyes and hands work together
in balancing and building
Provides an atmosphere for talking and dramatic play
Helps child with concepts of big, bigger,
tall, short, heavy, etc…
Fractions
DRAMATIZATION OR DRAMATIC
PLAY IN HOUSEKEEPING CORNER…
Helps broaden experience
Provides opportunity for recall of events in sequence
Encourages language development
Provides a situation for cooperation
Helps child to be creative
Develops an interest in reading and books
HELPING
WITH HOUSEKEEPING DUTIES…
Gives opportunity for children to assume responsibility
Encourages habits of neatness and orderliness
Gives child a feeling of being part of a group,
a helpmate
Provides opportunity for a child to sequence an activity
EXPERIENCING MUSIC AND RHYTHM…
Helps in listening and discriminating sounds
Arouses a feeling for and sense of rhythm
Helps child participate in a group
Stimulates dancing, hopping, running – large muscle activity
Provides opportunity for following directions
Provides outlet for restless feelings, anger or distress
SWINGING,
CLIMBING,
OTHER OUTDOOR PLAY…
Develops large muscles of legs, arms, and torso
Provides an opportunity for letting off steam
Is a good place for dramatic play
Helps child to learn to take turns,
socially to get along with peers
Allows child to determine limits of strength,
balance, and coordination
SNACK…
Stimulates sociability – sharing of conversation
Develops basic principles of good nutrition
Improves perceptual motor skills, (i.e. pouring)
Develops math skills – counting, dividing, volume